Those traditional, draughty, musty-smelling sin bins had better say their prayers. Genuflex of Venice have made penance a pleasure with their new Millennium Confessionals.

Gone is the traditional wooden chair or stool. Instead, the priest can sink into a black leather armchair. At his side is an electronic console to regulate the temperature, dim the lighting and adjust the sound-proofing. Yes, sound-proofing. According to Paolo Lion, Genuflex's managing director: "You can scream to your heart's content – even kill the priest – and no one outside would be any the wiser." Cost? "Up to £4,000."